KUCHING, April 3: Sarawak should now gear herself up towards self-determination or the Independence of Sarawak in its real sense, since the long 58 years of partnership in the Federation of Malaysia is not bringing much benefit to Sarawak and Sarawakians.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) member Egi Bangan King said this, emphasising that Sarawak and Sabah being termed a “fixed deposit” for the Peninsula and a “cash cow” when it comes to contribution to the nation’s coffer, was a matter of public knowledge.
“However, in return for their substantial contribution, the two equal partners whose status has been unconstitutionally reduced to states are given a pittance out of the annual national budget allocation.
“This shows how much the Borneo states have been losing out in terms of development. Sarawak and Sabah are left far behind the Peninsula and it is most unfortunate that the two Borneo states are the poorest in Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.
He pointed out that Brunei, who had decided not to join the formation of Malaysia in 1963, and Singapore who exited from the Federation in 1965, are now ranked among the richest countries in the region.
“But Sarawak, a country blessed with great wealth far richer than Brunei and Singapore, has turned into one of the poorest states in the Federation.
“This proves beyond any reasonable doubt that Sarawak can now exercise its option and right to come out from the Federation based on the statement recorded in the Borneo Times made by the First Prime Minister of Malaysia in 1963, which gave the assurance that both Sarawak and Sabah can leave Malaysia if they find that staying in the Federation is not beneficial,” added Egi, who is a strong proponent of Sarawak’s Independence.
Any responsible and accountable government after knowing the root cause of the problem, he criticised, would immediately focus on addressing the problem and not continuously beat around the bush in self-denial.
“Why do we allow Sarawak, such a rich country to remain poor? Why do we let Sarawakians be the unfortunate victims of circumstances that allow Peninsula to act like a colonial master when we are supposed to be equal as envisaged by our founding fathers?” he questioned.
Egi pointed out that Sarawak is also affected by the continuous onslaught of racial and religious sentiment being played in Peninsula by those who put their political survival and agenda first and foremost at the expense of the nation.
“It’s time for Sarawakians to seriously choose their own destiny and future. For the sake of our children, their children’s children and for Sarawak, we cannot remain poor because of Malaya.
Egi thus called on all right minded and fair minded Sarawakians to rally behind and support PBK, whose sole objective, he said, is to quest for Sarawak’s freedom from the Federation. — DayakDaily
